KDs are designed/developed/inspired/mused/auto-suggested/indigested to make folks think; an especially uncommon experience among Democrats, Republicans, and jingoistic mainline denominationalists who continue to discourage dissent with their ever-threatening thought police.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Baptized Twice!?!

Many churches
have laws against baptizing somebody who's been baptized as a baby.

They don't
believe in rebaptizing.

For them, once is
enough, uh, or should be enough, uh, or can be assumed to be enough, uh,
or...

They figure
"baby" baptism is sufficient for anyone who's been, uh, baptized as a
baby; and they've devised elaborate covenantal theologies to make themselves
feel good about their, uh, restrictions.

I'm not about to
debate the distinctives or duplicities of such churches; and if you don't know
why I'm not interested in the former because of the latter, I can't as
well as won't even try to...

Whether dipped,
dripped, dabbed, or dunked, baptism, regardless of the age, is all about being
"marked off" for God.

Babies are
"marked off" for God as parents and congregations promise to pray/try
to provide an education, environment, and example of Christianity that will
encourage "confirmation" of everything said in baptism about Jesus
and Biblical faith when the baby grows up into a more discerning soul.

Adults, whenever
that happens, make a decision to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior and
Biblical faith as true and then ask to be baptized or "marked off"
for Him.

But it gets a
little dicey when somebody older than a baby shows up and asks after
confessing, "I know I was baptized as a baby; but I never knew about it
except for some certificate that I found among some old papers in a
closet. But now I really, really, really believe in Jesus as Lord and
Savior; and I really, really, really want to be baptized because, well, I just
want to be baptized because I love Him so much and want the whole world to know
how much I love Him. Will you baptize me?"

Selah.

Seriously.

Selah.

Before spitting
out the typical denominational law about it like a mindless drone, ask
yourself, "What would Jesus do?"

I can't even
reimagine Jesus saying, "Sorry, dude, you were baptized as a baby and
that'll have to be enough for you."

This sounds about
right: "Sure, I love you so much and you loving me so much makes this a
good day to baptize the relationship."

Jesus always gave
second chances; actually, second and third and fourth and...

Really, and,
again, I know this is tough for mindless drones who pay more attention to
denominational laws than Biblical revelation and Spiritual enlightenment, what's sooooooo bad about doing
it again?

Geez.

If we can renew
marriage vows and auto licenses and magazine subscriptions...

@#$%

Big Mac comes to
mind.

I'll never forget
the corny joke that he'd repeat in every class that he taught in seminary.

"A woman
went to her pastor and asked if she could have her baby daughter done. The pastor
asked, 'Do you want her rare, medium, or well done?"

O.K., but,
Biblically/spiritually, there's another way to look at that.

Peterson
paraphrase/translation of Jesus: "'Who do you think my mother and brothers
are?' He then stretched out His hand toward His disciples. 'Look
closely. These are my mother and brothers. Obedience is thicker
than blood. The person who obeys my heavenly Father's will is my brother
and sister and mother.'"

Baptism(s) is/are
a tad more complicated than denominational laws about it/them.

Or as Tony said
to a denominationalist who had a hard time giving up his franchise's
constitution for Biblical revelation, "You do it your way; and I'll do it His way."

I'm not saying
it's always easy to figure that out; but I am saying I think we make it a lot
more restrictive and confusing than He ever intended.

I guess I'm with
Dodd who was with Jesus and concluded it's better to err on the side of gospel
than law.

@#$%

@#$%

Blessings and Love!

"I Just Wanna Ride" Pre-pub Orders!!!

One man's ride to real faith...

It's raw, rough, real, and maybe
even redemptive; and he could lose his day job for writing about it! I Just Wanna Ride is an Ivy League pastor's search for authentic faith on a
motorcycle after he couldn't find it after years in academics, pulpits, or
pews. From his immersion into biker culture since watching Easy Rider as
a teen-ager, the author holds no punches in this provocative, edgy, and risky
look at hogs and those who ride 'em as a metaphor and challenge to believers
and bikers. Too authentic for "church ladies" and too concerned
about "faith" for secularists, this book demands reading by all of
'em if any of 'em still care about Who and what matter most sooner or later and
definitely in the end.

The official release will be January 1, 2012!

Watch for the first book-signing at Woodstock
Harley-Davidson before spring!

Actually, it all got started with the Donatist controversy back in the early, early days. To settle the controversy, it was decided that one baptism, even if by the other side in the controversy, was enough to get you "in". This was misinterpreted through the years that one baptism was all there could be.

I was baptized in a RC Church and then, I think through ignorance of all concerned, rebaptized in a Presbyterian church a few weeks later. That did help when I came to marry my wife in an RC Church, but otherwise there has been no effect.

Anyway, baptism was a pre-existing Jewish custom (see John) which was never intended to be once and for all. So I agree with your conclusion that a rebaptism should not be forbidden.

Dr. K. Like you, I am a Presbyterian pastor. I did baptize an adult this past summer in a river. I have now had about five requests from previously baptized adults to be "re-baptized." In that same river. Hmmm.

Me thinks we need to have a 'renewal of baptism' ceremony next summer. At the river. As part of a church picnic/worship service. Either way, it is an issue that denominational doctrine (as if the PCUSA really has doctrine) needs to bend towards the pastoral and life reality. And may christ be praised!

For Presbyterian types (don't know if this fits with other types) when renewing baptismal vows one may use water--and may use as much of it as one wishes. While we may need to record it as a renewal of baptismal vows the party involved may look upon it as their baptism.

I would like to know much more about the ritual washing done in the first century Jewish communities. If anyone has information on it or where I can find it, please let me know. I believe folks like the Essenes would be washed / baptized / cleansed each time they re-entered their community after having left it. I have seen some ancient ruins with some cleansing / baptismal / washing areas but do not know where I can read more about what they did back then.

Good post---and I think I may read that new book of yours. Sounds like a fun read.

I was baptized a a Catholic born baby. I was filled with the holy spirit and saved outside my preachers house after a bible study one night over 35 years ago. I was baptized in the waters of Cordell Hull Lake 5 years ago with my grandson at my side. If I need another dose, if I need to refill my heart with his Holy Spirit I will do it again, and again and again. Amen.

Dear Bob: Let's just get them to Jesus!! Thank you for your inspiration, your wisdom, and your transparent heart that cares more about Him and what He thinks than man's ways and thoughts! Have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving! I am thanking Him for YOU!